Collapsible portable housing



May 12, 1964 J. D. HlCKMAN 3,132,553

COLLAPSIBLE PORTABLE HOUSING Filed April 10. 1961 INVI EN TOR. z/ac/rie Q fWa/vmm AT TOR N E1 United States Patent .0

3,132,658 COLLAPSIBLE PORTABLE HOUSING Jackie D. Hickman, RR. 3, Box 306, Syracuse, Ind. Filed Apr. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 101,869 8 Claims. (Cl. 135-4) This invention relates to a collapsible portable housing which may be quickly and easily erected and collapsed. The main objects of this invention are,

First, to provide a portable collapsible housing which may be quickly and easily erected and collapsed and which may be formed of relatively light stock and at the same time is rigid when in erected position.

Second, to provide a portable housing which is well adapted for the use of fishermen, hunters and the like and provides an efiective housing.

Third, to provide a collapsible housing having these advantages which may be very economically produced and is of relatively few parts.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front perspective view of a housing embodying my invention, portions of the walls being broken away, the closure securing means being indicated conventionally. 4

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section on a line corresponding to line 22 of FIG. 1. I

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view on a line corresponding to line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the connections for the housing to the frame.

FIG. =6 is an end view of the frame in collapsed position.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are end views illustrating certain of the steps or stages in the collapsing or erecting of the frame.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated comprises a pair of tubular front uprights 1'1 and a pair of like tubular rear uprights 22. These are desirably of the same dimensions, that is, formed of pipe or tubing of the same diameter and of the same length. The front and rear base bars 3 and 4 are likewise formed of tubing, but of a diameter less than that of the uprights. These base bars have upturned ends 5 disposed in parallel relation and at right angles to the body portions of the base bars. They are telescopically fitted within the uprights 1 and 2, see FIGS. 1 and -4. The arms 5 of the base bars have vertical slots 6 therein extending downwardly from their upper ends to receive the cross pins 7 on the uprights. The uprights 1 and 2 and the arms on the base bars are slidably engaged so that they may be adjusted to clear the cross pins 7 from the slots 6. See FIG. 4. The side top bars 8 have downturned arms 9 on their ends which are telescopically engaged in the upper ends of corresponding front and rear uprights 1 and 2, respectively, see FIGS. 1 and 3.

The uprights have holes 10 therein adapted to receive the locking pins 11, the arms 9 having holes 12 therein which may be aligned with the holes 10 to receive the pins. With the pins 7 engaged in the slots 6 and the pins 11 in engaged position, the frame parts are secured in their erected position. When the arms 5 of the base bars are disengaged from the pins 7 at the lower ends of the uprights and the pins 11 removed, the frame may be collapsed to the position shown in FIG. 6.

It will be noted that certain of the steps in collapsing or erecting are indicated in FIGS. 7 and 8. The first step in collapsing is to pivotally swing the parts to partially collapsed position as shown in FIG. 7, in which one pair of the diagonal opposite uprights are brought toward each other, which extends the other pair laterally away from each other and then the pairs may be swung into general alignment and collapsed through movement indicated in FIG. 8 to collapsed position indicated in FIG. 6. The reverse-manipulation serves to erect the structure.

In the embodiment illustrated, the housing, designated generally by the numeral 13, is formed of fabric and comprises a rear wall 14, side walls 15 and a front closure member 16 made up of two sections releasably connected desirably by a zipper indicated conventionally at 17. This housing includes an integral top 18 and is dimensioned to be slidably sleeved upon and removed from the erected housing. It will be understood that the collapsing, as has been described, cannot effectively take place when the housing is mounted on the frame.

The housing is provided with straps 19 provided with buckles 20 detachably engageable with the eyes 21 provided therefor on the frame, there being desirably three of these fastening units for the rear wall of the housing to the rear bottom bar and two for the closure member to the front bottom bar as illustrated in FIG. 2, and the side walls connected to the side bars as is indicated in FIG. 1. It willbe understood, however, that the connecting means may be considerably varied, but it is desirable to have means which permit the housing being effectively secured to the frame. The housings embodying my invention are desirable for many uses such, for example, as fishing, hunting, housings for use in changing clothes as to swim suits for example and vice versa, and many other uses including playground and the like.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate various embodiments and adaptations and variations in structural details, as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired. 7

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a collapsible and portable housing, a frame comprising a pair of tubular front uprights and a pair of tubular rear uprights of like dimensions, front and rear base bars disposed transversely of the housing and having upturned parallel arms at the ends thereof telescopingly and rotatably engaged in the lower ends of the front and rear pairs of uprights respectively, said base bar arms having upwardly opening slots in their upper ends, said uprights having crosspins engageable with said slots when the frame is in erected position thereby preventing relative rotative movement of the uprights and armswhile permitting such relatively rotative movement therein when thepins are disengaged from the slots, side top bars having downwardly projecting parallel arms at the ends thereof telescopingly and rotatably disposed in the upper ends of corresponding front and rear uprights, said uprights and said downwardly projecting arms of said top bars having alignable openings therein, supporting pins for said top bars removably engageable with said openings in said uprights so that relative rotative movement of the uprights and top bar arms is prevented when the pins are so engaged and relative rotative movement thereof is permitted when the pins are disengaged, said frame being collapsible when said pins are disengaged with the top bars in crossed relation and the uprights in substantially parallel relation, and a wall unit of flexible material including a rear Wall, side walls, a top, and a front closure having avertical entrance slit therein, said wall unit being dimensioned to be sleevably engaged with said frame when it is in erected position, and coupling eyes fixedly secured to said base bars and said top bars, said wall units 3 having hooks thereon detachably engageable with said eyes for releasably securing said wall unit upon said frame. i

2. A collapsible and portable housing frame comprising a pair tubular front uprights and a pair of tubular rear uprights or like dimensions, front and rear base bars disposed transversely of the housing and having upturned parallel arms at the ends thereof telescopingly and rotatably engaged in the lower ends of the front and rear pairs of uprights respectively, said base bar arms having upwardly opening slots in their upper ends, said uprights having crosspins engageable with said slots when the frame is in erected position thereby preventing relative rotative movement of the uprights and arms while permitting such relatively rotative movement therein when the pins are disengaged from the'slots, side top bars having downwardly projecting parallel arms at the ends thereof telescopingly and rotatably disposed in the upper ends of corresponding front and rear uprights, said uprights and said downwardly projecting arms of said top bars having alignable openings therein, supporting pins for said top bars removably engageable with said openings in said uprights so that relative rotative movement of the uprights and top bar arms is prevented when the pins are so engaged and relative rotative movement thereof is permitted when the pins are disengaged,'said frame being collapsible when said pins are disengaged with the top bars in crossed relation and the uprights in substantially parallel relation.

3. In a collapsible and portable housing, a frame comprising a pair of front uprights and a pair of rear uprights, front and rear base bars disposed transversely of the housing and having upturned parallel arms at the ends thereof telescopingly and rotatably engaged with the lower ends of the front and'rear pairs of uprights, said base bar arms having coactingdisengageable slots and pins preventing relative rotative movement of the uprights and arms when the slots and pins are engaged and permitting relatively rotative movement thereof when the slots and pins are disengaged, side top bars having downwardly projecting parallel arms at the ends thereof telescopingly and rotatably engaged with the upper ends of corresponding front and rear uprights, said uprights and said downwardly projecting arms of said top bars having alignable openings therein, supporting pins for said top bars removably engageable with said openings in said uprights so that relative rotative movement of the uprights and top bar arms is prevented when the pins are so engaged and relative rotative movement thereof is permitted when the pins are disengaged, said frame being collapsible when said pins are disengaged with the top bars in crossed relation and the uprights in substantially parallel relation, and a wall unit of flexible material sleevably engageable with said frame when it is in erected position, and coupling eyes fixedly secured to members of said frame, said wall unit having hooks thereon detachably engageable with said eyes for releasably securing said Wall unit upon said frame.

4. A collapsible and portable housing frame comprising a pair of front uprights and a pair of rear uprights, front and rear base bars disposed transversely of the housing and having upturned parallel arms at the ends thereof telescopingly and rotatably engaged with the lower ends of the front and rear pairs of uprights, said base bar arms having coacting disengageable slots and pins preventing relative rotative movement of the uprights and arms when the slots and pins are engaged and permitting relatively rotative movement thereof when the slots and pins are disengaged, side top bars having downwardly projecting parallel arms at the ends thereof telescopingly and rotat= ably engaged with the upper ends of corresponding front and rear uprights, said uprights and said downwardly projecting arms of said top bars having alignable openings therein, supporting pins for said top bars removably engageable with said openings in said uprights so that relative rotative movement of the uprights and top bar arms is prevented when the pins are so engaged and relative rotative movement thereof is permitted when the pins are disengaged, said frame being collapsible when said pins are disengaged with the top bars in crossed relation and the uprights in substantially parallel relation.

5. In a collapsible and portable housing, a frame comprising four uprights, a pair of base bars each having upturned parallel arms at the ends thereof telescopingly and rotatably engaged with the lower ends of a pair of the uprights, said base bar arms having upwardly opening slots in their upper ends, said uprights having crosspins engageable with said slots when the frame is in erected position thereby preventing relative rotative movement of the uprights and arms while permitting such relatively rotative movement when the pins are disengaged from the slots, top bars having downwardly projecting parallel arms at the ends thereof telescopingly and rotatably engaged with the upper ends of one of each pair of the pairs of uprights connected by said base bars, said uprights and said downwardlyprojecting arms of said top bars having alignable openings therein, supporting pins for said top bars removably engageable with said openings in said uprights so that relative rotative movement of the uprights and top bar arms is prevented when the pins are so engaged and relative rotative movement thereof is permitted when the pins are disengaged, and a wall unit including side walls and a top, said wall unit being dimensioned to be engaged with said frame when it is in erected position, and coacting detachable means on said Wall unit and frame.

6; A collapsible andportable housing frame comprising four uprights, a pair of base bars each having upturned parallel arms at the ends thereof telescopingly and rotatably engaged with the lower ends of a pair of the uprights, said base bar arms having upwardly opening slots in their upper ends, said uprights having crosspins engageable with said slots when the frame is in erected position thereby preventing relative rotative movement of the uprights and arms while permitting such relatively rotative movement when the pins are disengaged from the slots, top bars having downwardly projecting parallel arms at the ends thereof telescopingly and rotatably engaged with the upper ends of one of each pair of the pairs of uprights connected by said base bars, said uprights and said downwardly projecting arms of said top bars having alignable openings therein, supporting pins for said top bars removably engageable with said openings in said uprights so that relative rotative movement of the uprights and top bar arms is prevented when the pins are so engaged and relative rotative movement thereof is permitted when the pins are disengaged.

7. In a collapsible portable housing, a frame comprising a. pair of front and a pair of rear uprights, front and rear base bars disposed transversely of the housing and having angularly disposed ends rotatably engaged with the lower ends of said front and rear pairs of uprights, said base bars and uprights having coasting means preventing relative rotative movement thereof when the frame is adjusted to erected position, a pair of top bars having angularly disposed ends rotatably engaged with the upper ends of corresponding front and rear uprights, said top bars and uprights having coacting means preventing relative rotative movement thereof when the frame is adjusted to erected position, a wall unit comprising a top and side walls sleevably and supportedly engageable with said frame when the frame is in erected position, and means for detachably connecting said wall unit to said base bars and constituting means when connected thereto for preventing collapsing movement of the has bars and top bars relative to said uprights.

8. In a collapsible portable housing, a frame comprising four uprights, a pair of base members having integral angularly disposed end portions rotatably engaged with the lower ends of said uprights, said base bars and said uprights having coacting means preventing relative rotative movement thereof when the frame is adjusted to erected position, a pair of top bars having angularly disposed ends rotatably engaged with the upper ends of one of each of the pairs of uprights rotatably engaged with said base bars, said top bars and uprights having coacting means preventing relative rotative movement thereof when the frame is adjusted to erected position, a unitary wall unit comprising a top and side walls telescopingly and supportedly engageable with said frame when the frame is in erected position, and means for detachably connecting said wall unit to said base bars so that said Wall unit constitutes means when connected to said base bar for preventing collapsing movement of the base bars and top bars relative to said uprights.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS r Greenup Nov. 21, 1950 Adams Oct. 28, 1952 Kinney July 13, 1954 Langlais Mar. 29, 1955 Turner Mar. 6, 1956 Welsh Mar; 19, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS Australia Apr. 17, 1950 Great Britain June 26, 1925 

8. IN A COLLAPSIBLE PORTABLE HOUSING, A FRAME COMPRISING FOUR UPRIGHTS, A PAIR OF BASE MEMBERS HAVING INTEGRAL ANGULARLY DISPOSED END PORTIONS ROTATABLY ENGAGED WITH THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID UPRIGHTS, SAID BASE BARS AND SAID UPRIGHTS HAVING COACTING MEANS PREVENTING RELATIVE ROTATIVE MOVEMENT THEREOF WHEN THE FRAME IS ADJUSTED TO ERECTED POSITION, A PAIR OF TOP BARS HAVING ANGULARLY DISPOSED ENDS ROTATABLY ENGAGED WITH THE UPPER ENDS OF ONE OF EACH OF THE PAIRS OF UPRIGHTS ROTATABLY ENGAGED WITH SAID BASE BARS, SAID TOP BARS AND UPRIGHTS HAVING COACTING MEANS PREVENTING RELATIVE ROTATIVE MOVEMENT THEREOF WHEN THE FRAME IS ADJUSTED TO ERECTED POSITION, A UNITARY WALL UNIT COMPRISING A TOP AND SIDE WALLS TELESCOPINGLY AND SUPPORTEDLY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID FRAME WHEN THE FRAME IS IN ERECTED POSITION, AND MEANS FOR DETACHABLY CONNECTING SAID WALL UNIT TO SAID BASE BARS SO THAT SAID WALL UNIT CONSTITUTES MEANS WHEN CONNECTED TO SAID BASE BAR FOR PREVENTING COLLAPSING MOVEMENT OF THE BASE BARS AND TOP BARS RELATIVE TO SAID UPRIGHTS. 